Letter: Complex fisheries need experts like Rothschild

Complex fisheries need experts like Rothschild

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southcoasttoday.com

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Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

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Complex fisheries need experts like Rothschild

I have been involved in the fishing industry my whole life and therefore have lived through all the changes over the years. The fishing industry is a very diverse industry with many species of fish and many opinions on how to manage them, but the one thing everyone agrees on is the importance of the Mass School of Marine Science.

SMAST provides the fishing industry a way to have another opinion of what is the best available science that we are supposed to use in developing fishing management plans. The industry does not want false science. It just wants to make sure all options have been looked into.

I believe the university needs to tell the public if it will remain an independent fishery school or a rubber stamp for National Marine Fisheries. Removing Brian Rothschild from the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute does not appear to me to be a positive move for the fisheries.

Dr. Rothschild, as we all know, is renowned throughout the world in fisheries. The reasons given by the school for his removal ("Fisheries institute revamp removes Rothschild," Dec. 14) do not add up.